As a state organization of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Texas is deeply passionate about two things: Birds and People. The intersections between Homo sapiens and avian fauna are vast; and there is much we can learn. Bird banding is one method ornithologists use to learn the lessons birds want to share with us. It’s the process of trapping, marking, measuring, and releasing birds. Specifically, birds are typically ‘marked’ with a thin, lightweight aluminum or stainless-steel band, with an individualized number etched into it. Depending on the size of the bird and the purpose of the study, birds may carry a second type of marking or data gathering tool. This tool could include a color band, a motus tracker, or even a satellite-enabled GPS tracker. When banding, scientists can assess the breeding or migration-readiness of individual birds, learn about the molt patterns of species, assess the age and dispersal of populations.  

Before going any further, it is important to emphasize numerous safety precautions that are involved in bird banding! First and foremost, the care and safety of birds is paramount. Ornithologists can only band birds when properly trained and licensed to handle the specific family of species. For instance, banders are usually licensed for passerines, waterfowl, raptors, etc. Banding licenses in the US come from the USGS Bird Banding Lab. The most common way to band small passerines (the perching birds we know and love such as sparrows, warblers, buntings, etc.) is with a mist net. As with other types of specialized science procedures, there is a lot of jargon when it comes to banding. If ‘mist net’ is a new term for you, just know the tool gets the name because they’re hard for birds to see, similar to flying through mist. Mist nets can only be operated in a slim margin of conditions and banders must take into account wind speed, temperature, sun exposure, and precipitation, with a goal to release birds as quickly as possible. When data is collected over a long time, patterns begin to emerge about how habitats are being used and by what age of birds.  

Thanks to The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP), there is a continent-wide attempt at a common banding protocol used to gather data across the western hemisphere. Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) is used during the northern breeding season and Monitoreo de Sobrevivencia Invernal (MoSi) is used when the Neotropic migrants have returned to their wintering grounds. Under this protocol, banding stations operate 10-12 mist nets, open a little before sunrise, have a goal to operate for 6 hours, and gather consistent data such as weight, breeding characteristics, fat, feather wear, and molt information. More than 1,200 banding stations have participated in gathering MAPS data. Now, Trinity River Audubon Center has partnered with a local, licensed bander to bring a new MAPS station online! The goal is to study how Neotropic migrants are utilizing our urban forest and which species are breeding. Blaine Carnes, the bander in charge, is conducting a second MAPS station at John Bunker Sands Wetlands. He is hoping to compare the data gathered at these two disparate locations and gain insight into breeding species in areas of different development. 

  At Trinity River’s World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) celebration on Saturday, May 13th, the community may register for free banding demonstrations where Blaine will further explain the purpose of his study. Following MAPS protocol, catching birds is passive, meaning nets are put up in specific locations but no incentive is used to lure the birds, such as food or mating calls. Banding is an important skill and data-gathering tool. Audubon Texas and the Trinity River Audubon Center are delighted to be able to participate in this research. This is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the banding research being done in the state of Texas, and it’s just one example of how our education centers are utilized to better understand birds and their needs.